Biological basis of enzyme‐catalyzed polyester degradation: 59 C‐terminal amino acids of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase a from pseudomonas lemoignei are sufficient for PHB binding

Abstract

AbstractBiodegradable polyesters such as biologically produced poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid], (PHB) other polyhydroxyalkanoic acids and related chemosynthetic polyesters have attracted industrial interest, and bacterial produced PHB is commercially available since 1990. A large variety of polyester degrading microorganisms have been found to be present in environment. The microorganisms decompose the polymers by secretion of extracellular polyester depolymerases and utilize low molecular weight degradation products for growth. Microbial polyester depolymerases have the unique property to be water soluble and to be able to bind specifically to polyester surfaces. The objective of this contribution is a functional analysis of a bacterial PHB depolymerase polyester binding domain. In addition, a detailed summary of the present knowledge on the biochemistry of enzymatic polyester hydrolysis is provided.